</s>REPORT 7-1b of the FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION LABORATORY FEDERAL BUREA OF INVESIGATION WASHINGTON, D. C. 205535 To: FBI, Memphis (44-1987) Date: Fbi File No. September, 4, 1968 44-5861 MURKIN D-608206606 JK Lab No. CR D-680206161 JK Specimens received 8/26/68, from FBI, Chicago Eight payroll checks of Indian Trail restaurant, Inc ., payable to JOHN RAYS or JOHN L. RAYNS, further described as follows: SPECIMEN NUMBER DATE AMOUNT SPECIMINEN 4838 5/7/67 $84.89 0398 4913 5/14/67 $44.89 0409 4913 5/28/67 $44,89 0404 5058 5/27/67 $58.89 0402 $150 $1250 6/4/67 69.63 0403 $2095 6/67/67 $2995 69.69 0405 $2093 6/25/67 59.63 0405 5557 65/57 77.53 Q406 Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate dated May 10, 1967, bearing Social Security Number and signed "John L. Rayns" Specimens Received from 1968/66, from FIH, Chicago Q407 Sheet from rooming house ledger, page 13, bearing on line 24 of the signature "John Rayns, dated 6/18/67, bearing the Q408 Registration card. No. 8075, dated 8/18/.67, Bearing the signature "John R. Raynes" Result of examination: Result of examination: It was concluded that JAMIS HARL RAY, K171, K211 and N257 prepared the questioned that JAMES HARL RAIL RAY. K171. K2171, the que- tioned handwriting on Q408 and the questionful Rayns signature on 0407, the ques-

Summary:  
The document contains multiple FBI records related to the investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. A handwriting analysis report (FBI Laboratory No. D-680206161) examines specimens linked to John R. Rayns, including payroll checks from Indian Trail Restaurant, Inc., and documents such as an Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate and rooming house ledger entries. The analysis concludes that James Earl Ray may have prepared some questioned endorsements but lacks conclusive evidence due to variations in handwriting. A separate teletype communication (October 15, 1968) details FBI coordination with the State Attorney General of Tennessee, Phil M. Canale, regarding witness interviews for an upcoming trial of James Earl Ray. Witnesses are requested in Toronto, Montreal, London, and Lisbon to establish Ray's fugitive status post-assassination. A memorandum (October 16, 1968) outlines the estimated cost of the investigation through September 30, 1968, at $1,281,847, including 3,075 field agents and 5,380 hours of unpaid overtime.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (accused of assassinating MLK)  
- Phil M. Canale (State Attorney General of Tennessee, handling the prosecution)  
- John R. Rayns (individual linked to questioned documents; possibly a pseudonym or alias)  
- Robert Dwyer, James Beasley, John Carlisle (Canale’s representatives seeking witness interviews)  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI office and trial location)  
- Toronto, Canada  
- Montreal, Canada  
- London, England  
- Lisbon, Portugal  
- Auburn Avenue N.E., Atlanta, Georgia (address associated with E. S. Galt)  

Key Events:  
- Handwriting analysis of documents tied to John R. Rayns and James Earl Ray  
- FBI coordination with state prosecutors to secure witness testimony for trial  
- Estimated cost of the investigation through September 30, 1968  
- Request for interviews with witnesses in multiple international locations to establish flight patterns post-assassination  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- State of Tennessee Department of Justice  
- Curtis Publishing Company (provided photostats of subscription records)  
- Scotland Yard (involved in witness interviews in London)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_22-01-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search